You've surely seen them: medication packed in pouches...
to help you live a healthy, vibrant life. But where do those pouches come from?
A trained pharmaceutical team headed by a superintendent pharmacist...
provides pharmacies with patient specific packaging of medications.
And that is SPITS.
The process begins when a pharmacy sends us an order.
The pharmacy's software links with our system, allowing orders to be processed as they come in.
After being checked, the orders are being sent to the packaging machines.
Our software system tracks expected customer demand in order to manage stock levels.
We unpack and enter the day's supplies in the system.
Two separate staff members check the batch numbers and expiry dates.
Each stock bottle of medication receives a unique label...
before going directly to the automated warehouse.
Medicines that aren't available in stock bottles are removed from their blisters.
High-risk medications or those that are sensitive to moisture or light stay in the original packaging.
Right before the medication enters the packaging process...
the pharmacy assistant checks the batch number and accuracy again...
and the stock bottles are sealed.
The automated warehouse scans hundreds of bottles and boxes a day...
and stores these efficiently.
The system constantly monitors the expiry dates.
The robot provides the medicines requested by the packaging machine.
Medicines are dispensed individually by the packaging machine...
and processed by intake moment.
Each canister and location in this machine has a unique chip that is readable by the system.
This ensures that the machine dispenses the correct medication.
Because of this, the canisters can be positioned freely.
The machine indicates which canisters an order will require and when a refill is needed.
The machine can continue production, as the next canister is immediately available.
Now the first canister can be refilled.
All frequently requested medications are automated in this manner.
Medicines that must be fed into the machine manually are dispensed to a tray.
The tray is linked to the correct pharmacy file by a chip...
ensuring that trays can't be confused and patients always receive the right medication.
The medicine bottle's bar code is scanned...
and the tray-filling software shows which compartments should be filled with this medicine.
Manual filling of compartments continues until the tray is full.
A different staff member checks and then releases the tray for production.
The chip ensures that the machine always matches the correct tray to the correct order.
After production, the entire roll and the accompanying forms...
go to the inspection machine.
SPITS designed this inspection machine in partnership with ZiuZ.
It is now used worldwide.
The inspection machine photographs each pouch multiple times.
The roll is processed into smaller rolls for each patient.
Based on the photos, the ZiuZ visual intelligence software checks each individual pouch.
Pouches that are different than expected are checked by a staff member.
A batch validator checks the number of rolls and sorts deviations.
Any rolls requiring rectification go to a separate tray.
Finally, the inspection report is appended.
The bar codes on the rolls link to the photos and data.
We assess the identified deviations, using the inspection report...
and determine whether the medication matches the description.
After rectification, the pouch is sealed with special tape.
We photograph the pouch once again.
A different staff member checks the rectified pouch against the rectification photo...
and scanned bar codes.
The rolls are entered into the transport system...
where necessary provided with administration details...
and then packaged according to the customer's wishes.
For instance, in paper bags or letterbox-sized packaging for home deliveries.
After a final check, the SPITS pharmacist releases the crates for transport.
The correct medication then finds its way to the intended user.
Day in, day out, SPITS generates a million pouches every week, from check to check.
These medicine pouches make life easier for both pharmacists and users.